New York, September 25, 2015--Each year, the world's leaders are invited to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where they are given a platform to speak freely and openly. But while the leaders of many countries enjoy this privilege, their journalists back home are jailed, threatened, attacked, or even killed for reporting the news.

Chinese President Xi Jinping issued tough words on the visa woes of international media outlets today, arguing that journalists facing visa restrictions had brought trouble on themselves and signaling that there will be little respite for the international media in China.

The battle over blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng's
freedom and well-being is a battle over information. Both Chinese and U.S.
officials are trying to spin the story their way. A few activists and media claim
to speak for Chen, and in China's anti-press environment they are putting
themselves at risk. Direct interviews with the man himself are hard to come by.